Humans of LIC - Betsy Mills

Hunter’s Point Parks Conservancy is beginning a new series called “Humans of LIC” to highlight our volunteers, park-goers, and park workers. We want to show why they make our Park so great. It is because of them, that we are all able to enjoy the beautiful park each and every day.

Today, we are kicking off our series with a feature on a long-time HPPC volunteer, Betsy Mills. We are happy to share her experience and have her be a part of the “Humans of LIC” campaign. Keep reading to find out more about Betsy’s journey with us!

Full Name: 

Elizabeth (Betsy) Mills 

Title/Involvement with the parks/HPPC

Volunteer

How long have you been involved here?

I participated in my first Bulbfest in 2018, shortly after moving to NYC, and have participated in it every year since. I became more involved in 2020 participating in the weekly group volunteer events, as well as working with Heather (the NYC Parks gardener) on Sunday mornings. 

 Why do you volunteer?

I really enjoy spending time immersed in green spaces, and am very grateful to have the opportunity to participate in volunteer events at HPPC. As anyone who has worked with me at an event can attest, I really love weeding! I find it to be immensely satisfying, as it provides me a way to utilize my excess energy in a productive manner which benefits the ecological health of the park. Though, I must admit that I have come to admire the tenacity of the weeds. 

What is your favorite place in the park?

On warm evenings I can often be found dancing along the waterfront across from the athletic field. It provides opportunities to bask in the beautiful sunset and watch the waves crash as the ferries go by, while providing a delightful breeze. 

Why is this park important to you?

To me, HPP represents NYC at its best. It provides opportunities for recreation and social activities, but also can serve as a much needed respite from the hectic pace of NYC-life. I like that it is easily accessible by bike, and I know that no matter what kind of day I am having, I will always feel better after spending time at the park. 

Is there anything you want park visitors to know?

When I'm not volunteering, I spend my time focusing on brain health and dementia prevention. The park fosters activities that are known to promote brain health, including spending time in green spaces, engaging in social activities, and exercising. For more (free) information from neuroscientists like myself on how to keep your brain healthy, check out CognitiveVitality.org. (https://www.alzdiscovery.org/cognitive-vitality) I'd also remind visitors to thank park staff for the amazing work they do.”

Thank you so much Betsy for your continuous involvement and support with Hunter’s Point Parks Conservancy!

Learn About LIC & Hunter's Point History!

In the Spring of 2021, HPPC took viewers on a 5-part journey through the history of Hunter's Point and Long Island City. The adventure emphasized a special focus on maps and historical images of our area and was led by Andrew Kapochunas, local resident, amateur historian, and member of the New York Map Society.

The video lectures are sure to surprise and delight viewers with many remarkable maps and photos that show the area’s transformation over time and touch on its great historical importance. There are also countless fun facts and stories that many viewers would not have know before! For example, did you know that there were only two homes on the LIC shoreline in the late 1700s? Or that all Queens addresses were changed in the 1920s? Or that Hunter’s Point South Park was originally planned to be the site of the Olympic Village if NYC won its bid for the 2012 Olympic Games?

Learn more by watching each chapter! All five videos can be found on our YouTube channel and the links are below:

• Chapter 1: Pre-History to Henry Hudson’s arrival, 1609

• Chapter 2: 17th and 18th Centuries; the American Revolution

• Chapter 3: 19th Century and the Industrial Revolution

• Chapter 4: 20th Century development and decline

• Chapter 5: 21st Century and the future of Hunters Point Parks

Enter the 2021 LIC Henge Photo Contest

Celebrate LIC Henge with HPPC this year by entering our photo contest! LIC Henge is a yearly phenomenon where the setting sun aligns perfectly with the east-west street grid of Manhattan. This year, on May 29 park visitors should be able to see half sun on the grid and on May 30 should be able to see full sun on the grid.

How to enter: Participants can enter by posting their picture(s) on Instagram, tagging HPPC, and including the Hashtag #LICHenge. If they do not have Instagram, pictures can be submitted to info@hunterspointparks.org.

Photos must be taken from Gantry Plaza State Park and/or Hunter’s Point South Park, not within Manhattan or from any other vantage point and must be taken in 2021.

Participants who submit photos to the contest provide HPPC non-commercial license to use the images in perpetuity in future publications and promotions for relevant Conservancy purposes.

The contest will open on the first day of the spring Henge, May 29th and will be open until June 1st. Winners will be decided on by a panel of HPPC board members and announced by June 10th.

Hunters Point Parks Conservancy reserves the right to delay this contest until the summer ‘Henge’ (July 12 & 13) should there be poor weather and/or not enough photo submissions.

Prizes:

1st place: $50 gift card to LIC Landing & HPPC t-shirt

2nd place: $25 gift card to LIC Landing & HPPC t-shirt

3rd place: HPPC t-shirt

All 3 winning photos will also be featured in the newsletter and on social media.

HPPC Plants Four Yoshino Cherry Trees in Hunter’s Point South Park in Honor of Earth Day 2021

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy (HPPC) celebrated Earth Day this year by planting 4 new yoshino cherry trees in Hunter's Point South Park. These trees were purchased by HPPC via the New York Tree Trust, to replace others that have died since their initial planting back in 2013. The theme of Earth Day 2021 was “Restore Our Earth,” and HPPC took that theme to heart this year, restoring the earth in our front yard by planting these beautiful and vibrant trees.

Yoshino cherry trees currently ring the oval in Hunter’s Point South Park and make for some of the most iconic images of the park when they bloom in the spring, usually early April. The tree is known for its vibrant display of white-pink blossoms and faint almond fragrance in the springtime. Throughout the summer they also delight park-goers with their unique branching pattern, glossy bark, and dark-green leaves. The trees also provide an important source of food for many small birds and mammals.

Across New York City there are three different varietals of cherry trees that are commonly seen and provide spectacular blooms in the spring, but they all bloom at different times. The first up are okame cherry trees, which bloomed this year at the end of March. Next are the yoshino cherry trees, which bloomed in early April this year and are what you will find in Hunter’s Point South Park. And last are kwazan cherry trees which are currently in bloom. The yoshino cherry tree, along with its cousin the kwanzan cherry, is responsible for the spectacular pink blossoming show each spring in Washington, D.C.

The trees planted in the park have already lived interesting lives, having started out as seedlings in Oregon, before being shipped to the North Fork of Long Island (where the NYC Parks nursery is) at 1-2 years old. They then grew up there until they were big enough to find a permanent home in Hunter's Point South Park after HPPC’s purchase this year. The trees are already between 7-10 years old and will take a few more years to fully fill out. The are still partially in bloom now because it's slightly colder on the North Fork where they came from and therefore their bloom was slightly later.

Announcing the 2021 'Bulbfest' Photo Contest! (& Official Rules)

Over the last several years, the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy has planted over 30,000 bulbs on the LIC waterfront through our ‘LIC Bulbfest’ planting events each Fall. Thanks to the hard work of our many volunteers, Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter’s Point South Park are abloom each Spring with thousands of daffodils, tulips, alliums, and more.

To celebrate this Spring, HPPC is launching a ‘Bulbfest’ photo contest! Participants will have the opportunity to submit an entry to the contest during the duration of the spring bloom for a chance to win prizes!

How to enter: Participants can enter by posting their picture(s) on Instagram, tagging HPPC, and including the Hashtag #LICBulbfest. If they do not have Instagram, pictures can be submitted to info@hunterspointparks.org.

Photos must contain bloomed bulbs (tulips, daffodils, alliums, crocuses) in Gantry Plaza State Park and/or Hunter’s Point South Park and photos must have been taken from the parks in 2021.

Participants who submit photos to the contest provide HPPC non-commercial license to use the images in perpetuity in future publications and promotions for relevant Conservancy purposes.

The contest opens on March 31st and will run until April 20th. HPPC reserves the right to extend the contest later into spring, pending a delayed or extended spring bloom. Winners will be decided on by a panel of HPPC board members and announced on May 6th.

Prizes:

1st place: $50 gift card to LIC Landing & HPPC t-shirt

2nd place: $25 gift card to LIC Landing & HPPC t-shirt

3rd place: HPPC t-shirt

All 3 winning photos will also be featured in the newsletter and on social media.

We're Hiring! Come Work for HPPC as a Summer Programming and Communications Intern

To apply for this position, please send a resume and cover letter to casey@hunterspointparks.org no later than Friday, April 23rd.

Job Description: Summer Programming and Communications Intern 

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy (HPPC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance and advocate for the green spaces and waterfront of Long Island City, Queens, and to ensure the parks remain an indispensable asset to the community.

The Conservancy works in Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter’s Point South, providing volunteers for park upkeep, funding occasional park maintenance projects, and hosting over 100 free events in the parks each year. Free events include movie nights, concerts, fitness classes, art classes, and a 6 week-long program of free children’s activities called Summer Kids at the Landing.

In 2020, and the start of 2021, the Conservancy has been offering virtual versions of many of its programs, including fitness classes, kids activities, and art classes.

Position Overview

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy is looking to hire a seasonal intern to help manage virtual events and communications, as well as assist the board and staff on some other big-picture projects. The intern will be working in a remote capacity and the tasks/schedule will vary on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, the ideal candidate will be adaptable, a quick learner, and a self-starter, who is well versed in technology, including social media, video conferencing, and graphic design platforms.

This position may also be tasked with helping to plan and implement in-person events in the summer and early fall of 2021, pending the state of public health in New York City and current City & State regulations.

Job Responsibilities

• Manage HPPC virtual events, including fitness classes, kids programs, and more TBD

  • Manage registration list and send links to participants

  • Be online during classes to answer questions and provide technical assistance as needed

  • Work on promotion of events, including creating graphics, posting on event listing sites, and posting on social media

  • Collect and analyze event feedback – implement changes when possible

• Help manage social media

  • Create schedules for social media posts

  • Create and share content

  • Build HPPC’s social media strategy

• Aid in Conservancy communications and outreach efforts, including, but not limited to:

  • Design of digital advertisements and graphics

  • Creation of pitch decks and/or other outreach materials

  • Crafting of press releases and/or blog posts

• (As needed) Help lead HPPC volunteer gardening days in the park

• (TBD) Help implement and manage in-person events

  • Stay up to date on best practices and government regulations to ensure compliance

  • As needed, be ‘on the ground’ managing events to ensure safety standards

  • Lead promotion of events

• Other possible tasks may include:

  • Helping Conservancy staff and board create plans for the buildout and operation of a new space within the park

  • Working with the Conservancy staff & board and NYC Parks on a proposal for interpretive signage within the park & digital supplementary material

  • Working with staff and board to create a process for planning and evaluating events

Location & Schedule

This is a mostly remote, part-time position. Intern will be required to provide their own computer and access to internet. As needed, intern may be asked to attend in person meetings or events in the park and/or help lead volunteer days.

Hours will be flexible and variable. Evening work will be required and some weekend work may be necessary. Intern will be required to be online during all HPPC virtual events, but otherwise may choose their own hours, provided weekly or daily goals are accomplished. 15-20 hours per week will be expected.

Term: May - September 2021

Education and Other Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent

• Previous experience in event management or virtual learning encouraged

• Familiarity with social media and video conferencing platforms

• Graphic design skills and familiarity with design programs (Adobe suite)

• Ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously

• Comfortability speaking in front of groups of people, both in-person and over video call

To Apply:

Please send your resume and cover letter as one PDF document to info@hunterspointparks.org with the subject line “Summer Intern” no later than Friday, April 23rd.

Note: Job description is not all inclusive. Hunters Point Parks Conservancy reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. Hunters Point Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Announcing HPPC's Winter Virtual Program Series Sponsored by Weill Cornell Medicine Primary Care Long Island City

Hunters Point Parks Conservancy's virtual events are returning for a new 10-week winter series! Beginning February 1, HPPC and our local event partners will be hosting FREE events twice a week that are open to anyone who would like to join us.

Advanced registration is required for each activity. All dates and details can be found on our calendar of events. Learn more about each program by checking out the calendar and then register for whichever ones you want to join! Once you register once for a program, you will be able to access all events in that series.

Please reach out to info@hunterspointparks.org with any questions regarding events.

This program would not be possible without the support of Weill Cornell Medicine Primary Care Long Island City.

Weill Cornell Medicine is an academic medical community that is passionate about improving the health of communities both globally and locally through our innovative, collaborative approach to care. For over a hundred years, Weill Cornell Medicine has been providing care to New York families. With patient care at the forefront of their mission, Weill Cornell Medicine has over 40 locations around the city including Primary Care services and over 1600 specialists caring for families in Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan. Recent expansions into Queens has increased access to world-class care for the entire family: Our Long Island City Primary Care practice offers family medicine for adults and children. Other specialty services will be coming soon to the area. In light of recent events, Weill Cornell Medicine has also increased their use of Video Visits and continue to be at the forefront of modernizing remote access to care through their digital health services to ensure that all patients remain connected with their healthcare providers. Visit Weill Cornell Medicine Long Island City to learn more.

HPPC Board Statement on Waterfront Parks Security

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy’s (HPPC) mission is to enhance and advocate for the green spaces and waterfront of Long Island City, Queens, and to ensure the parks remain an indispensable asset to the community. 

HPPC is a volunteer-led, community non-profit that supports the New York City and New York State Parks Departments through volunteer gardening, free community events, and small supplemental park maintenance projects. While we have a positive working relationship with the departments, neither HPPC as an organization, nor any of its individual members, have decision-making authority on matters of safety, security, rule enforcement, or park operations. 

HPPC appreciates all concerns that our community raises regarding issues of safety and security in our waterfront parks, and always passes them on to the proper authorities. However, if you would like to address your comments directly to the proper decision-making authority, we hope the following information will be helpful:

• Always call 311 or log an incident via the 311 online portal (portal.311.nyc.gov). Every incident reported through 311 is logged and this data helps city agencies make decisions - the more data points, the more likely it is that something will be done.

• If you are experiencing or witnessing an emergency, dial 911.

• Please note that our waterfront park land in Hunters Point is actually 2 different parks and many neighborhood safety and security issues are handled by many different agencies:

  • The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (NYS Parks) manages Gantry Plaza State Park which is located between 50th Ave. and Anable Basin.

    • Park safety and enforcement issues are handled by New York State Parks Police.

  • The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) manages Hunter’s Point South Park which runs from 50th Ave. South to Newtown Creek.

    • Park safety and enforcement issues are handled by Parks Enforcement Patrol (PEP).

  • The local 108 Precinct of the New York City Police Department handles general security and criminal incidents in the neighborhood as well as any overnight security or criminal activity in the parks.

  • All overhead lighting and light poles as well and city streets and crosswalks are managed by the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT)

  • Food trucks are overseen by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOH)

• If you would like to contact any of these agencies directly, you can use the following numbers:

  • NYS Parks (Gantry Plaza State Park) - (718) 786-6385

    • NYS Parks Police New York City Zone Headquarters - (212) 694-3620

  • NYC Parks (Hunter’s Point South Park) - (718) 626-8621

    • PEP - no separate phone number, have to contact through 311

  • 108 Precinct general line - (718) 784-5411

    • You can also directly contact the 108 Precinct’s Neighborhood Coordination Officer for sector A David Cortes at david.cortes2@nypd.org or (718) 784-5411

    • more contact numbers available here

  • DOT - (212) 839-2510

    • For information on active DOT cases (including speed hump and traffic signal studies) or to submit new cases, click here.

  • DOH - 311

Hunters Point Parks Conservancy Statement on Neighborhood & Waterfront Development

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy’s mission is to enhance and advocate for the green spaces and waterfront of Long Island City, Queens, and to ensure the parks remain an indispensable asset to the community.

We believe that public, open, accessible green spaces are the single most important factor in the health and happiness of our community. To that end, we encourage the creation and/or preservation of any such space within the Long Island City neighborhood. 

We believe that any major development project taking place within the neighborhood must work to actively create new public open space, to the fullest extent possible. Should new open space not be possible, new developments must instead support existing spaces to a significant degree.

We further believe that any (new or existing) public open space in our community should:

• Be a true public commons with no barriers to entry

• Be a place where any individual feels welcome and comfortable, no matter their age, color, national origin, immigration status, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or physical abilities

• Be accessible and seamlessly integrated into neighborhood amenities and transportation networks

• Be designed with the local environment in mind, using current best practices and features that integrate the natural and built environment, reduce or prevent pollution and stormwater runoff, and benefit native flora and fauna

In addition, any new developments being built on or near the waterfront must integrate resilient waterfront design concepts to help protect the neighborhood from future sea level rise and storm surge. New waterfront developments in LIC must go above and beyond the current New York City recommendations and industry best practices. 

Any waterfront development must:

• Actively remediate any contaminated soil and/or sources of pollution

• Work to capture stormwater by installing green roofs and other green infrastructure

• Restore natural habitat by incorporating waterfront edge designs that provide habitat for native plants and animals

• Provide recreation opportunities through water access points and/or public amenities

• Design with resilience in mind - incorporating soft edges, wetlands, berms, and/or other flood protection measures

We look forward to continuing to work with all community stakeholders in order to enhance and advocate for the green spaces and waterfront of Long Island City for many years to come.

A Heartfelt Thank You From Hunters Point Parks Conservancy

In a challenging and tumultuous year, Hunters Point Parks Conservancy was able to accomplish more than we ever thought possible. How? Because of our amazing donors, volunteers, sponsors, and community supporters.

Find out more about our 2020 accomplishments in this video.

The importance of parks and community park groups has never been higher and will be vital to our city's reemergence. None of work is possible without the support of our friends and neighbors. Please consider contributing to the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy by clicking this link.

We believe in the power of green space to clear our minds, bring us joy, sustain our communities, and help us recover from anything. If you share our belief in the power of parks, please consider a Holiday donation to the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy this year.

HPPC Wraps Up Record-Setting Volunteer Season

On Saturday, November 7th the Hunters Point Parks Conservancy wrapped up our 2020 volunteer season with our 50th volunteer project of the year (a new record)! In total, despite working through a challenging year, we held 35 volunteer days with New York State Parks in Gantry Plaza State Park, 13 with New York City Parks in Hunter's Point South Park, and an additional few events with the Newtown Creek Alliance working to create a pollinator meadow on 48th Ave, between Center Blvd. & 5th St.

Thank you to the 487 volunteers who helped us remove 856 bags of weeds and plant over 1,200 plants and 13,000 bulbs in our waterfront parks. A special shout-out is needed as well for the wonderful NYS & NYC Parks gardeners and maintenance staff who work so hard to maintaining our beautiful parks. 856 bags of weeds and 13,000 bulbs are new record numbers for one season and we also hit an all-time single volunteer day high of 43 bags of weeds removed on October 15th.

We'll get right back to it in early spring 2021!

Check out our gallery of pictures from this year’s volunteer season!

HPPC Plants 13,000 Bulbs on LIC Waterfront

On the morning of Saturday, October 31st, Hunters Point Parks Conservancy held our 6th annual LIC Bulbfest. Nearly 70 volunteers came out to help HPPC, NYC Parks, and NYS Parks plant approximately 13,000 tulip, daffodil, allium, and crocus bulbs in Gantry Plaza State Park and Hunter’s Point South Park.

The Conservancy is extremely thankful to our parks department partners and the many dedicated volunteers who made this an extremely successful event. We were also encouraged that all volunteers followed our strict health and safety protocols that were in place so that everyone kept each other safe.

We can’t wait to see the waterfront blooming with new life in Spring 2021 and will be sure to share pictures and updates as the parks begin to come alive.

New Climate Neutral Mural on Past, Present, and Future of Newtown Creek Unveiled

On Wednesday, October 21st, HPPC hosted local elected officials, educators, and environmental leaders at a press conference recognizing the completion of a new mural across the street from Hunter's Point South Park.

The massive mural, which depicts the past, present and future of Newtown Creek, is located on the South wall of the Q404 Hunters Point campus building, which hosts the Hunters Point Community Middle School, The Academy for TV and Film and The Riverview School. The work is New York City’s first carbon neutral street art and is being created with mostly recycled and repurposed materials as well as a unique paint that absorbs pollution from the air.

The artwork stems from a competition launched during Climate Week, Sept. 21 through Sept. 27, by the UN and GreenPoint Innovations (GPI), a production organization focused on sustainability. The competition was also organized by The Climate Group and Newtown Creek Alliance. The competition, GreenPoint EARTH 2020: Screens2Streets, aims to spotlight global climate issues using art.

The winning piece — now being painted — depicts the past, present and future of the nearby Newtown Creek, a federal Superfund site. It includes birds, seagrasses, sassafras and smoke stacks. The mural illustrates the connection between industrialization, climate change and the health of local communities

Thank you to artist iena cruz for creating such a beautiful piece that speaks to our neighborhood and out waterways. We are so proud to have this work of art in Hunters Point!

HPPC Announces Halloween Costume Contest

This fall, Hunters Point Parks Conservancy is continuing to think of ways to keep our community connected while we have to stay distant. This October, we will be hosting a ‘Virtual Costume Contest’ and we hope our friends and neighbors will participate!

The contest will open on Monday, October 19th and will close at the end of the day on Halloween, 10/31. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: adult, child, and pet! Participants can enter by posting a picture of themselves (or their child or pet) on Instagram, tagging HPPC, and by using the Hashtag #LICWaterfrontHalloween. If you do not have Instagram, pictures can be submitted to info@hunterspointparks.org.

In addition, this year’s LIC Bulbfest also falls on Halloween and there will be an additional prize for best Bulbfest costume! If you are registered to volunteer at Bulbfest, we encourage you to come dressed in a ‘planting appropriate’ costume that you don’t mind getting dirty.

Submissions must be received by 10/31. Winners will be selected by the following Monday, 11/2, and announced that afternoon. The Bulbfest winner will be determined during the event and awarded that day.

Prizes:

(1) Children - $25 gift card to Something Sweet

(2) Adults - $25 gift card to Piatto

(3) Pets - $25 gift card to Pet Island

(4) Bulbfest - $25 gift card to Jackson’s

HPPC & Newtown Creek Alliance Build Pollinator Meadow on 48th Ave.

During Climate Week 2020 (September 19 - 26), Hunters Point Parks Conservancy partnered with Newtown Creek Alliance (NCA) and many dedicated volunteers to create a pollinator garden on the medians on 48th Ave. in Long Island City. Additional partners on the project include Hunter’s Point Community Middle School, PS/IS 78, and the New York City Department of Transportation.

HPPC and NCA worked with many volunteers over the course of four days -starting with removing weeds and trash from the long-neglected medians on Saturday, 9/19. We then planted over 600 native grasses and wildflowers in the Western median on Wednesday, 9/23 and another 500+ on the Eastern median on Friday, 9/25. The project was completed on Saturday, 9/26 by spreading mulch around the plants on both medians. In total, over 1,100 plants were planted on the medians and over 75 volunteers helped on the project.

We were also fortunate enough to have the support of U.S. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, who stopped by twice to lend a hand and commend our work.

In future school years, the garden will be used by students at both Hunter’s Point Community Middle School and PS/IS 78 as a teaching tool when they navigate the Newtown Creek Urban Ecology Curriculum that NCA & HPPC co-produced and introduced into their classrooms.

The benefits of this type of garden are many, most notably as habitat for ecological valuable pollinators, like butterflies, moths, and bees and small birds. They also provide important ecosystem services including infiltration and filtration of stormwater, carbon storage, and nutrient recycling. Wildflower meadows are ecologically-friendly landscape components that, once established, have minimal maintenance requirements (University of New Hampshire Extension, 2019).

Ongoing maintenance work on the medians will be carried out by Newtown Creek Alliance and Hunters Point Parks Conservancy.

The 48th Median planting project is generously supported through the NYC Environmental Fund administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. Additional funding for the project has been generously provided by Arc’Teryx. All median work is in tandem with and approved by the Queens Department of Transportation.

'Floating Woman' by Gaston Lachaise Arrives in Hunter's Point South Park

Hunters Point Parks Conservancy and the Lachaise Foundation are thrilled to announce the temporary installation of Gaston Lachaise’s Floating Woman (Floating Figure) in Hunter’s Point South Park. The piece was placed in its temporary home on Thursday, September 24.

The work is one of Lachaise’s best-known, monumental works dating from the late twenties. The buoyant, expansive figure represents a timeless earth goddess, one Lachaise knew and sought to capture throughout his career. This vision was inspired by his wife, who was his muse and model, Isabel, that “majestic woman” who walked by him once by the Bank of the Seine. This work is a tribute to the power of all women, to ‘Woman,’ as the artist referred to his wife, with a capital W.

Gaston Lachaise devoted himself to the human form, producing a succession of powerfully conceived nude figures in stone and bronze that reinvigorated the sculptural traditions of Auguste Rodin and Aristide Maillol.

Lachaise wrote: “You may say that the model is my wife. It is a large generous figure of great placidity, great tranquility. . .What I am aiming to express is the glorification of the human being, of the human body, of the human spirit with all there is of daring, magnificence. . .” (“A Comment on My Sculpture,” Creative Art, 1928).

A total of nine casts exist. Other casts can be seen at the Museum of Modern Art, NY; in Philadelphia at the Society Hill Towers, designed by I. M. Pei; at the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery, Nebraska; at Princeton University in New Jersey; at the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra; and in the collection of the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris.

The work was cast at the Modern Art Foundry in Astoria, Queens. This Queens connection, coupled with its visibility from the East River inspired the Lachaise foundation’s choice of Hunter’s Point South Park and the specific install location. The piecesitsby the water, on the West side of the old railroad tracks in the park, aligned with 51st Ave.

HPPC would like to thank the Lachaise Foundation, NYC Parks, and Community Board 2 for helping make this installation possible. The piece will reside in Hunter’s Point South for one year.

Hunters Point Parks Conservancy Statement Regarding Security on the Hunters Point Waterfont

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy’s mission is to enhance and advocate for the greenspaces and waterfront of Long Island City, Queens, and to ensure the Parks remain an indispensable asset to the community. 

Hunters Point Parks Conservancy has been concerned for some time about the illegal and disruptive activities that have been occurring in our waterfront parks at night.  During this time, we have been in constant contact with many stakeholders in the community including park officials, elected officials, neighbors, local business owners and the 108th Precinct.

The Conservancy is extremely upset when we see the parks littered with empty liquor bottles, fireworks residue, and the results of fires that have damaged park infrastructure. Additionally, we, like many people living in the Hunters Point South neighborhood, have been woken up repeatedly throughout the night by loud music, fireworks, and drag racing on Center Blvd. The Conservancy has frequently witnessed unauthorized motorized vehicles in the park creating safety hazards for park users. The Conservancy is dismayed by reports of unauthorized late-night raves that ignore social distancing laws during a global pandemic that has had such a negative effective on our local community’s health.

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy agrees more needs to be done to address these issues. We believe more effective enforcement of park polices are required, especially during the night and on weekends to stem these disruptive problems. During these unprecedented times, we also believe it is more important than ever to work with the proper authorities to meet the needs of our parks and all of our Queens community.

The Hunters Point Parks Conservancy has 20+ years of experience working together with the New York State and New York City Parks Departments to meet our collective challenges. When trash plagued the park earlier this summer, HPPC worked with park officials and invested in Bigbelly Trash Cans that have increased capacity and alleviated the problem. When budget cuts hampered park staffing, we continued to provide and organize needed volunteer services and partnered with the hard-working park employees. This summer we’ve weeded, mulched, and helped clean the park to keep our parks clean, safe, and welcoming for all.

Long Island City and Queens are better when we all work together. At the core of our mission is fostering a sense of community and inclusivity for all who enjoy our parks.  The Conservancy is committed to working with all concerned stakeholders to solve the problems we collectively face. We will continue to partner and offer support to initiatives that support our mission through the proper channels.

7 Bigbelly Trash Cans Installed in Hunter's Point South Park

On Thursday, August 6, 2020 NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver visited Hunter’s Point South Park. He was joined by Queens Parks Commissioner Michael Dockett, park managers Eric Goetz and Shirley Echavarria as well as officials from Hunters Point Parks Conservancy to officially unveil newly purchased Bigbelly trash cans.

The first set of four cans were installed in the park on July 21, with an additional three put into operation on August 17. The Bigbelly cans hold five times the capacity of a standard trash can and reduce/eliminate overflowing trash cans, prevent windblown litter within the park, keep rodents out of trash, reduce plastic bag usage, offer patrons a hands-free option, and divert more labor hours to other higher-value tasks within the park.

HPPC would like to thank Commissioner Silver and the NYC Parks department for their continued support of Hunters Point Parks Conservancy as a valued partner.

To our neighbors - please continue to do your part when you are using our parks! Ensure that your trash is placed into one of the garbage cans, or consider taking it out with you to reduce the burden of our dedicated, yet over-worked, park staff.

We were in the news!

NY1 - “Ribbon Cutting for Solar Powered Trash Cans” -

LIC Post - “Park Officials Cut Ribbon For New Smart Garbage Cans at LIC Waterfront”

QNS - “Hunters Point Parks Conservancy installs high-capacity Bigbelly trash compactors”

HPSP & Newtown Creek

The southern end of Hunter’s Point South Park borders Newtown Creek, a 3.5-mile long tributary of the East River that partially separates the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. The boat launch in Hunter’s Point South Park is one of three public access points to Newtown Creek, and the first one in Queens. The Creek was one of the most heavily used bodies of water in the region and is now one of the most polluted industrial sites in the United States. Dutch and English colonizers utilized the Creek for industrial commerce as early as the 17th Century, making it the oldest continual industrial area in the US. Prior to the colonization of the region, Native Americans lived along the Creek and used it for agricultural purposes. Before the development of industry along the Creek, the water was lined with marsh, wetlands and additional estuaries. Pre-industrialization the Creek was wider and longer, there were even two islands in the middle of the Creek; Mussel Island, an uninhabited patch of marshland was named for the sizable population of mussels that once thrived in the Creek, and Furman Island, which is now fused into Queens. 

Photos from Newtown Creek Alliance

The wetlands and marshes lining Newtown Creek were wiped out with the development of industry along the waterway. The Creek was soon reduced to a single-source waterway; its estuaries having been sealed off by developers. The lack of water circulation and vegetation lead to extensive accumulation of pollutants in the Creek. Eventually oxygen levels were so low the Creek could no longer support aquatic life during much of the 20th Century. 

Contamination and sewage overflow

In 1950 a reinforced concrete sewer exploded, causing oil to spill into Newtown Creek. The extent of the spill went unknown until 1978, when discoveries of oil leakage lead to the eventual realization that up to 30 million gallons of oil had leaked into the Creek. In addition to spilled oil, the landscape contains years of discarded toxins, raw sewage from New York City’s sewer system and other accumulated waste and contaminates from 1,491 different polluting sites. However, it wasn’t until 2010 that the EPA declared Newtown Creek a “superfund site”  making it eligible for federal funds toward cleanup efforts. Although official clean-up of the site has yet to take place, organizations such as the Newtown Creek Alliance have led remediation efforts of their own. For more information on NCA’s programs, check out their website. 

Foliage Feature: Bioswales

The walkways through Hunter’s Point South Park are lined with diverse species of native vegetation. However, these plants serve many more purposes than solely beautifying our paths! This vegetative border is actually a landscape feature called a bioswale. Hunter’s Point South Park is rimmed almost entirely with a continuous bioswale. Bioswales capture and filter stormwater runoff from surrounding streets and sidewalks. Bioswales help alleviate pressure from New York City’s sewage system by allowing water to slowly infiltrate the ground over a period of 24-48 hours, rather than causing overwhelming runoff into the East River. New York City uses a Combined Sewer System (CSO) which collects stormwater runoff, domestic sewage and industrial wastewater in the same pipes. Heavy rainfall can easily overwhelm the system and cause flooding, bioswales help alleviate this issue by diverting stormwater. Bioswales also reduce the amount of standing water that attracts insects such as mosquitoes, and replaces sewage drains with beautiful and easy to maintain wildlife habitats, supporting biodiversity in the area.

The use of native vegetation allows for low-maintenance landscaping that conserves resources and is more environmentally friendly. Native plant species require less water usage and there is no need for synthetic fertilizers because they are naturally resilient and have adapted to local conditions, having developed defenses to many diseases and insect pests. Native vegetation also provides vital habitats for native birds and other species and helps prevent soil erosion due to their extensive root systems. 

Sideoats Grama

Camint (nepeta)

Purple Coneflower

Henry Hudson Rose

Zebrinus Grass